Refrigerator.



PATENTED NDV. 3, 1903 B. PARISH.

REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED we. 10, 1903.

Inventor Ear/bl? Par? 5% N0 MODEL.

Attorney device of this character which will be simple Fatented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BARTON PARISH, OF HOMER, ILLINOIS.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,323, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed August 10, 1903. Serial No. 168.994. (N0 modeli) Improvements in Refrigerators; and I do as:

clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to refrigerating devices of that class in which shelves, trays, or other receptacles are lowered beneath the surface of the earth in a well, cistern, or the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a and comparatively inexpensive to construct, durable in use, and very efficient for the purpose intended.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved refrigerator, showing the car raised to permit of access to its shelves. Fig. 2 is a Vertical longitudinal sectional View through the same, showing the car lowered into the well or cistern. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the device. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the elevator casing or housing.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes a well or cistern having its upper end closed by the usual cover or platform 2, in which I provide an opening 3, through which a car 1 is adapted to be raised and lowered into and out of the well. Said carcomprises a series of horizontal shelves 5, secured between vertically-disposed side pieces 6, and is mounted to slide vertically in a casing or housing 7, secured upon the top of the platform abovesaid opening. Said casing comprises two vertically disposed end pieces 8, which are secured in the ends of the opening 3 and which project above and below the platform a sufficient distance to guide the caret as it is raised and lowered between them. To further guide the car, narrow vertical side strips 9 are secured to the ends 8, as shown.

The sides of the casing 7 are open to permit of access to the car and of a free circulation of air through the same and its contents, and

the top of said casing is closedbytheinclined.

cover or roof 10. In order to raise and lower the car, the same is suspended from its top by a cord or other flexible connection 11, which is wound around a drum 12, secured upon a horizontal shaft 13, mounted to rotate in the upper end of the casing and provided at one end with a crank-handle 14,by means of which the drum is rotated to raise and lower the car. A lockin g device, here shown in the form of a pivoted hook 15, engaging said crankhandle, is provided to hold the car at any desired elevation. In order to compensate for the weight of the car and to permit the same to be easily raised, a counterbalancing-weight 16 isdisposed in the well and secured to one end of a cord or flexible connection 17 ,which is wound about a spool or drum 12, secured on the shaft 13. The cord 17 is wound in the reverse direction to that in which the cord 11 is wound and is then secured to the drum 12.

In order to close the opening 3 when the car is lowered into the well, I provide a trapdoor 18, which is slidably mounted in the casing 7, between the guides 8 and 9. Said door is provided upon its top with a crosspiece 19, (one or more may be used,) which engages the top of the platform 2 when said door is in its closed position and prevents the latter from dropping through the opening 3. The cord 11 slides through apertures formed in said door and its cross-bar, so that as the car is raised above the platform the top of the same will engage the under side of the door to elevate the latter, and as it is again lowered the door will lower until the crossbar rests upon the top of the platform, as shown in Figs. 3 and I. An adjustable clamp 20 is provided in order to hold the trap-door in its closed position.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. When the car is in its raised position, as seen in Fig. 1, any food products or articles desired to be kept cool are placed upon the shelves 5. The car may be then lowered by operating the Windlass, as previously described. The trap-door closes the opening in the platform, and the car may be lowered to any desired depth, cross pieces or bars 8 being provided at the lower ends of the guides 8 to limit its downward movement and to brace said guides.

The casing or housing 7 may be an open or skeleton frame, or it may be made air and water tight and of wood, metal, or any desired material.

In addition to the use of the device as a refrigerator in the summer-time, the same may be used during the winter to receive food or other articles, which will be prevented from freezing owing to the moderate temperature in the Well or cistern.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

tain the closure in a closed positionwhen the car is lowered, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a guide element, a car guided thereby, an opening through which the car passes, a closure for said opening elevated by the car on the ascent thereof, a drum and cord to raise and lower the car, the said cord passing through an opening in the closure, and an adjustable clamp on the cord to bear on and retain the closure in a closed position, when the car is lowered.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BARTON PARISH.

\Vitnesses:

J. C. WRIGHT, M. C. THOMAS. 

